Chilean Quake Shortened Length of Earth Day by 1.26 Milliseconds

The recent earthquake in Chile has literally rocked the planet, and now the length of each day will be 1.26 milliseconds (0.00126 seconds) shorter, which is so unfair. It seems the quake, which was the seventh strongest ever recorded, shifted something apparently meaningful called the Earth’s “figure axis” by about three inches. Scientific representation—or “model”—at right.

According to Space.com:

“Strong earthquakes have altered Earth's days and its axis in the past. The 9.1 Sumatran earthquake in 2004, which set off a deadly tsunami, should have shortened Earth's days by 6.8 microseconds and shifted its axis by about 2.76 inches (7 cm, or 2.32 milliarcseconds).[...] The Chile earthquake was much smaller than the Sumatran temblor, but its effects on the Earth are larger because of its location. Its epicenter was located in the Earth's mid-latitudes rather than near the equator like the Sumatran event.”

And now, the entire planet has a completely valid excuse for failing to complete tasks or arriving late to things.